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unwashedtoast's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
njoky's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
joward's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ashmanzer's review against another edition
5.0
This is a brilliant commentary on our current state of climate change and greedy leaders. Loved it!
zea_d_writing's review
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I found the Forward collection through finding that NK Jemisin had a short story available on KU, so naturally I read this story first.
Which means the collection peaked with the first story I read.
As usual, NK Jemisin’s writing is absolutely phenomenal here! Her intentional POV use, the worldbuilding that so intricate and in depth yet succinct, the view of a future that seems so far beyond our capabilities but is firmly and solidly grounded in our part and our current reality…it’s beautiful and heartbreaking.
It’s absolutely unfair that they put NK Jemisin’s story with her use of 2nd person POV in a collection with another story that was also in 2nd person. It doesn’t matter how talented a writer the other author is, their work will pale in comparison to Jemisin’s incredible and intentional work.
Which is exactly what happened here. After reading ‘Emergency Skin’, the story ‘The Last Conversation’ by Paul Tremblay felt a clunky (despite being one of the other stories I actually enjoyed in this collection) in comparison.
‘Emergency Skin’ is easily the best story in this collection.
Which means the collection peaked with the first story I read.
As usual, NK Jemisin’s writing is absolutely phenomenal here! Her intentional POV use, the worldbuilding that so intricate and in depth yet succinct, the view of a future that seems so far beyond our capabilities but is firmly and solidly grounded in our part and our current reality…it’s beautiful and heartbreaking.
It’s absolutely unfair that they put NK Jemisin’s story with her use of 2nd person POV in a collection with another story that was also in 2nd person. It doesn’t matter how talented a writer the other author is, their work will pale in comparison to Jemisin’s incredible and intentional work.
Which is exactly what happened here. After reading ‘Emergency Skin’, the story ‘The Last Conversation’ by Paul Tremblay felt a clunky (despite being one of the other stories I actually enjoyed in this collection) in comparison.
‘Emergency Skin’ is easily the best story in this collection.
mallotar's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
noragrace89's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most brilliant short stories I've ever read.
emmaelizabeth22's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
merilizabeth's review
3.0
A different type of read
I was not expecting for the book to talk to me. It did feel like I was the main character of the book. It was an interesting approach. Did not explain some things I found interesting, but a good paced fast read on a short trip on train or bus. Not sure if I will be continuing with Forward series tho...
I was not expecting for the book to talk to me. It did feel like I was the main character of the book. It was an interesting approach. Did not explain some things I found interesting, but a good paced fast read on a short trip on train or bus. Not sure if I will be continuing with Forward series tho...